A few weeks ago, I traveled to Chicago for the Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo, fondly known as FNCE. In addition to attending scientific sessions and hearing from thought leaders like CNN’s Sanjay Gupta, Kimbal Musk, co-founder of The Kitchen, and Dayle Hayes, MS, RDN from School Meals that Rock, I wandered through the Expo hall tracking innovative new food products and exciting nutrition trends. On this week’s show, trends tracker and fellow dietitian, Janet Helm, MS, RDN joins me to dish about her favorite food finds, my top picks, and mouthwatering innovations making their way to a supermarket near you.

Janet’s blog is called Nutrition Unplugged, and she’s my go-to resource for food trend news. I always love hearing about her insights at FNCE, which is why I invited her to chat with me on today’s show. Overall, these were the biggest themes we noticed at the show:

> What’s Old is New Again: New food trends are fun to track, but sometimes those tried-and-true favorites make a comeback. Cottage cheese anyone?
> The Power of Probiotics: With so much buzz about the health benefits of good bacteria, it was no surprise probiotic foods were everywhere.
> Plant-based Milks: From almond and peanut milks to milks made with pea protein, non-dairy milks were a big hit at the Expo.
> Plant-based Diets: Beans and lentils are having a moment!
> Allergy-free Foods: Gluten-free was all the rage for the past few years, and now we’re seeing lots of products free from the top 8 allergens.

I’ve provided links below to many of the food products we talked about on the show, and I’ve also shared links to blog posts written by other dietitians who were also at FNCE. It’s fun to read their insights and hear about their favorite food finds.

“It is so encouraging to see the industry listening to consumers in the good food movement.” – Janet Helm

Show Highlights:

Janet shares her personal history and what she finds so interesting about food trends.

Plant-based foods are the trend! Learn ways to eat less meat without giving up your favorite flavors.

I’m Liz Weiss, a registered dietitian nutritionist, mom of two, and cookbook author. I’m passionate about making healthy family food that’s fun for everyone, so I welcome you to explore my blog for recipes, nutrition insights, and mealtime inspiration.